‘It Wasn’t Very Comfortable’- Paula Badosa Makes Honest Admission After Miami Open Battle Against Aryna Sabalenka

Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa revealed her feelings after playing a match against her best friend and Grand Slam winner, Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka went through a tough time as her former ice hockey coach boyfriend passed away last week in Miami. This unfortunate incident made fans anxious about whether this Belarusian WTA pro would withdraw her name from the ongoing Miami Open tournament. However, not only did Aryna Sabalenka play the match outstandingly, she also defeated Badosa.

Now Paula Badosa speaks candidly about encountering Sabalenka on the court after her life’s tragic incident. Badosa also came forward in Aryna Sabalenka’s support after the media surrounded her with questions after her former boyfriend’s death. The Spanish tennis star delves deeper into the Grand Slam winner tennis player’s fighting spirit and dedication to the sport.

Paula Badosa is not ready to call her match against Aryna Sabalenka a “special” one given the latter’s challenging life encounters

In a press conference, Spanish WTA star Paula BAdosa was asked about her feelings while challenging her best friend and Belarusian WTA star, Aryna Sabalenka. In her response, Badosa said- “Well, I wouldn’t call it ‘special’ because it wasn’t very comfortable to play my best friend in this situation.” 

Badosa rather wished to speak about her challenges as she faced a major lower back injury last year and had to retire from the Thailand Open tournament in 2024. Badosa felt that attending the Miami Open tournament this season was already a win for her since she didn’t expect to perform here.

Given that the match was between two very good friends, Aryna Sabalenka’s fans were assured that she would be comfortable with her on-court presence. On the other hand, Badosa didn’t expect to participate. She felt a bit awkward facing off her best friend after a tragic incident in the latter’s life. However, Badosa didn’t step down from praising Aryna Sabalenka’s amazing fighting spirit after the match.

Bestfriend Paula Badosa calls Aryna Sabalenka a “strong woman” after losing against the Grand Slam winner at Miami Open 2024

Paula Badosa raised her support for Aryna Sabalenka throughout her interview at the press conference. Speaking about her uncomfortable feelings about facing off against Sabalenka after the incident, Badosa went further in addressing the Belarusian WTA pro’s strong points.

Badosa commented- “No, I wasn’t surprised at all. As I said, she’s a very, very strong woman, strong personality. You can see it on the court. Especially I know her off court. It doesn’t surprise me at all. I knew she was going to play very well or like normal. I told her I wish her the best. Let’s see if she can go very deep in this tournament.”

Paula Badosa’s statement about playing against Aryna Sabalenka truly delighted fans’ hearts. This is because Badosa not only presented herself as a great competitor but mesmerized the fraternity by showing an amazing friendship despite the on-court rivalry.

Read more: Windy Miami Brings Out Helpless Laughter From Aryna Sabalenka in a Relieving Moment for Fans